There is a growing trend for posh shops in the town where I live, which seems to be accelerating of late, particularly along Market street. As well as Lupino and Rose that has just opened selling jewels and other things you don't need, there is a new jeans shop called Sage & Onion which is far too expensive – about £160 for a pair of jeans, so I can't see it lasting that long! Together with Kloggs and Dynamite which opened a few weeks ago, that makes three trendy clothes shops now. Then there's Ruby Shoesday* which has moved across the road, and a total of three jewelry shops. Still, at least two of these are run by the people who make the stuff.
Hebden has always been full of creative people, but now I guess they reckon there's a market to sell their stuff here so they're opening retail outlets. I notice a lot more people coming into the town at weekends now to buy things other than chips. It might also be that the big cities are getting too expensive for small independents to afford the rents. I think it's quite good for the town, even if some of the stuff is a bit pricey.
Mind you, I can imagine lots of wingeing about it! It's like when Hebden was on the Politics Show last weekend. The article was mainly about the town going plastic-bag free, but they also mentioned other initiatives such as the plastic recycling and the Alternative Technology Centre. Although the main article was on the local segment of the show, there was a short link from the national studio in London who described Hebden Bridge as 'glorious'!
During the interviews with our Mayor, Nader Fekri and two of the Bag Ladies, I was thinking I bet they've blocked the street off to stop the undesirables and nay sayers (i.e., locals) wandering up during filming. I can think of a few people who will detest the fact that the town is getting more interesting, famous and prosperous!
*See Standing Shoes only for an amusing anecdote relating to this shop
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